Czech Railways Injects 50 Extra Night Seats into Baltic Express Amid Surging Route Demand

Baltic Express couchette car service is being introduced by Czech Railways (ČD). It is aimed at passengers travelling to Poland’s Tri-City area. That area includes Gdańsk, Gdynia and Sopot. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

The change applies to the 2026 summer season. According to Czech Railways, the Prague–Gdynia night service will include a couchette car. It will run alongside the sleeper car already used on the route. The added vehicle will increase capacity by nearly 50 seats. Also, it gives passengers a more affordable overnight option. The service is for travel between the Czech Republic and the increasingly popular Baltic coast.

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The international Ex32 Baltic Express links Prague and Gdynia. Its route runs through Pardubice, Wrocław and Gdańsk. ČD will add the couchette car from June 26 until August 31, 2026. It will be used on the EC 460 and EC 461 night trains. At the same time, the year-round sleeper car will remain in place.

“The Baltic Express route has quickly gained popularity among passengers since its launch, especially during the summer season. That is why we are responding to the growing demand and adding new, attractive, and affordable services. In addition to the sleeper car, we are also introducing a couchette car for the summer season, with a higher standard than is usual for this type of service,” said Michal Krapinec, CEO of the operator ČD.

Additional capacity on the Baltic Express route

The new couchette car will have four- and six-person compartments. Passengers may also reserve an entire compartment. That means a private compartment for one to three people. The option is presented as an attractive alternative to sleeper cars.

The service level will correspond to existing couchette cars. For example, those cars are used on connections from Prague to Przemyśl in Poland. Beds will be prepared for sleeping. Passengers will receive a light breakfast in the morning. It will include a croissant, a hot drink, and water. The hot drink will be coffee or tea.

In addition, JLV stewards will provide onboard service. They already work in Czech Railways dining and sleeping cars. A seat in a six-person compartment is presented as an attractive option. It is for passengers seeking a comfortable but affordable overnight connection.

“In recent years, we have successfully operated the sleeper car on routes to Warsaw and Kraków, and we recently began operating it on the line to Przemyśl, where it was very well received by passengers. This has prompted us to expand the offer in a similar way on the night route between Prague and Gdynia. The sleeper car not only increases train capacity but also provides a higher level of comfort for passengers,” said Jiří Ješeta, Deputy General Manager of the Passenger Transport Division.

Prague–Gdynia night trains and onboard services

The EC 460, departing from Prague Main Station, is part of the Baltic Express route. The EC 461, departing from Gdynia Station, is also part of the route. Under the Baltic Express name, four EuroCity trains operate in each direction. They use modern cars from ČD and Polish operator PKP Intercity.

The trains offer modern air-conditioned cars. Also, passengers have Wi-Fi and charging points for electronic devices. Catering is available throughout the journey in the Czech Railways bistro car.

Baltic Express trains leave Prague Main Station daily. In the Czech Republic, they call at Kolín and Pardubice. They also stop at Ústí nad Orlicí, Letohrad, Jablonné nad Orlicí and Lichkov. The Prague–Gdańsk journey takes around 8.5 hours. The trip from Prague to Gdynia takes about 30 minutes longer.

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